16 • The Beacon August 26 , 2021
Local men take part in Honor Flight
By Jen Jones
Four local men fulfilled their dream of participating in an Honor Flight on Aug . 19 . They were scheduled to go in April 2020 , but their flight was canceled due to COVID .
Dave Dilly said the first Honor Flight had five veterans , three from World
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War II and two from the Korean War . The men travel from Coshocton to Columbus , where they board a plane to Washington , D . C . They are driven to several memorials around the city with volunteer guardians . They are then flown back to Columbus that same day .
Dilly said to make the long day a little easier , they now have rooms at a hotel near the airport in Columbus , and the men will go over the night before for the early morning flight .
“ Thanks to Blue Star Mothers and the VFW . The guys on the Honor Flights don ’ t have to pay for the hotel , and the cost of the flight is free to them too . The only thing they pay for is any souvenirs they might want ,” Dilly said .
The flight from Columbus actually goes to Baltimore , where they get on buses for the trip to Washington , D . C .
“ It ’ s really cool . We always have some kind of escort , like motorcycles or special forces teams . The traffic in the city just clears out of the way for us ,” Dilly said .
Dilly has traveled as a guardian on 12 flights . “ The guys are always really fired up about the trip . The flight over , everyone is talking ,” he said .
Earl Donaker is one of the men who took the flight . “ It is a privilege to be able to do this and remember the people who
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served . The men from World War II , Korea and Vietnam — I just can ’ t imagine what they went through .”
Bernard F . Scheetz served from 1956-58 and was eager to honor the men who served during times of war . “ It ’ s an honor to be able to be there .”
Gary Wilkinson said he was tickled to be able to go
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Jen Jones
Gary Wilkinson , Bernard F . Scheetz , Herb Tidrick , Earl Donaker and Dave Dilly took part in an Honor Flight on Aug . 19 . Honor Flights take veterans to Washington , D . C . to visit several memorials and Arlington National Cemetery . The flights are free for veterans . on the Honor Flight . “ My dad served in the Philippines , and he had it tough . I watch these young guys in Afghanistan now and can ’ t imagine how tough it is to be there . I ’ m so happy to see young people graduate and choose to serve in the military .” Herb Tidrick worked
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